Shoe-display form



May 17, 1927. 1,628,734

w. c. NILES SHOE DISPLAY FORM Filed Sept. 12. 1925 Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER L. C. NILES, OF SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO EXCEL SHOE FORM COMPANY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE-DISPLAY FORM.

Application filed September This invention relates to forms for displaying boots and shoes, particularly low shoes, and has for its object to provide a form which will simulate in appearance a stockinged foot, thereby producing a natural effect in the display of the shoe, but which is durable and wear resisting and can be readily cleaned when soiled.

The more particular objects of the invention will best be understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof and the steps employed in producing the same as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood however that the particular constructions, operations, and materials described and shown have been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended, may be otherwise practiced and embodied withoutdeparture from its spirit and scope.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a shoe form, illustrating the first step of the finishing operation.

Fig. 2 a similar view illustrating the subsequent steps.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the completed form.

The invention consists in providing a shoe form with an exterior surface having the configuration and appearance of textile fabric but composed of a sn'uioth, hard, waterproof material. This is preferably prodlu-ed by the use of a covering of textile material such as linen, silk, cotton, or other fabric, either woven or knitted, said covering having a coatin of celluloid, collodion, or the like, generall known in the art as pyroxylin or pyralin, and hereinafter for convenience generically referred to as pyroxylin.

Referring to the drawings, the shoe form 10 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a base or body which may be composed of any suitable material, preferably paper or fibre, and which is of sufficient rigidity to PQIfOI'IIl its supporting function. To this otherwise complete form is applied the surface to which the invention primarily relates. To this end said form is first preferably provided with a coating of the pyroxylin in solidifiablc liquid form, such as an ether solution, which may conveniently be applied by 12, 1925. Serial No. 55,926.

spraying from a nozzle 11, as indicated at 12. Prior to the complete solidification of the pyroxylin coating thus aoplied, the form is covered by a textile fabric 13, as shown in Fig. 2, said fabric being embedded in said coating. Thereafter a second coating of the pyroxylin solution applied to the fabric 13, as by again sprayii'ig from the nozzle 11, as indicated at 14.

The complete shoe form resulting from the above operations, after the solidification of the pyroxylin coating or coatings, is shown in Fig. 3 and has a surface 15 composed of textile fabric coated with pyroxylin, said surface having the configuration, texture, and appearance of the fabric, but being smooth, hard and waterproof so as to resist wear and to be capable of being readily cleaned by washing or wiping when soiled. The fabric employed may, ofcourse, be of any desired color or texture, and suitable pigments may be included in the pyroxylin solution in order to produce any desired color effect. The resulting form Sill'lllltlt'GS closely the appearance of a stockinged foot but avoids the necessity of employing a stocking over the shoe form, as has herctofore been quite commonly done, and is of equally long or even longer life than the ordinary fibre forms heretofore generally use.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

1. A shoe form comprising a base or body of proper shape, and a covering of textile material )ern'iancntly attached to the we terior surface of said base or body, said to);- tile material having a thin outer coating of a solidified waterproof substance.

2. A shoe form comprising a base or body of proper shape, and a covering of textile material permanently secured to said base or body by asolidified waterproof adhesive substance and having also an outer coating of said substance. 1 H

3. A shoe form comprising a base or body of proper shape, and a covering of textile material permanently attached to the exterior surface of said base or body, said textile material having athin outer coating of pyroxylin.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

\VALTER L. J. NIILEQ.

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